ABOUT ALANYA

Alanya is one of the most important settlement centers on Mediterranean coastal line with its economic structure that is composed of agriculture, fishery, animal husbandry, handicrafts and various functional properties.
The altitude of mountain pastures section on its North, which is located on the mountainous part of Alanya on the extension Taurus Mountains is approximately 1.000 meters. Alanya peninsula is covered with 6500 meters of city ramparts and located on the South. the peninsula is separated from Taurus Mountains with plain areas. There is no passage through the Taurus Mountains from sea to North direction, but it possible to pass through the Taurus Mountains to Central Anatolia via Koçdavat mountain pass and through the valleys of Dim and Alara, whose names were given by Yerköprü, Kuş Yuvası, Dim and Alara brooks and rivulets. Transportation difficulties with Central Anatolia Region and declination of Alanya Peninsula with a pretty high profile resulted in development of sea transportation in the region.

Alanya and its vicinity are sheltering not only natural riches but also historical prosperities. Taurus Mountains merged with blue waters of Mediterranean and created this magnificent nature with plentiful vegetation cover. There are 11 streams, brooks and rivulets within the limits of the county, all of which are flowing through deep valleys and painting the nature in various tones of green.

FORTRESS OF ALANYA

The Alanya Fortress is located on the peninsula, whose altitude is almost 250 meters and it has somewhat 6.5 kilometers of ramparts. Despite that the first inhabitation of the Alanya Peninsula, which is also known with the name of Kandeleri goes as far as Hellenistic periods; the currently existing historical textures are remains of 13th Century Seljukian works.

The Fortress was built during the reign of Seljukian Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat, who conquered the city in the year of 1221and had it rebuilt. The Fortress has 83 towers and 140 castles. More than 400 cisterns were built in Middle Ages in order to meet water requirement of the city, which was located within the ramparts at that time. Some of these cisterns are still used today. The ramparts were built in a planned manner. They were constructed as to begin at Ehmedek, progress through İçkale, Adam Atacağı and over the Cape of Civarda and go down through Arabic Saint and Esat Castle and finalizing at Red Tower by extending over Cannon Foundry and Shipyard. There is the inner castle on the peak of the peninsula, which is currently evaluated as an open-air museum. Seljukian Sultan Alaaddin Keykubat, had his palace been constructed there...

The inhabitation at the fortress is still going on in the present day. silk and cotton fabrics are being manufactured at the wooden looms and bottle gourds are hand-decorated in authentic figures in front of wooden or stone houses. Some authentic meals are being serviced at little gardens. On the other hand, there are some restaurants and cafeterias scattered on the slopes overlooking the port and along the road, which climbs to fortress. Car traffic is allowed within the fortress. Climbing to the fortress on foot takes nearly one hour.

Alanya Fortress, which stretch out on Kandeleri Hill in maturity and tranquility of being remained from several early centuries is the only Seljukian fortress protected until the present day. Holly Georgy Church, Palace of Alaaddin Keykubat, Seljukian Bath and Seljukian shipyard are the other structures, which have been remained until the present day.